John Means pitched six strong innings, Ryan Mountcastle had three hits and an RBI, and the Baltimore Orioles downed the host Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Saturday.
Means (5-3) gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He recorded his first victory since May 5. Means was sidelined for over six weeks with a left shoulder strain and was making his third start since being activated.
Maikel Franco supplied a solo homer for Baltimore, while Pat Valaika contributed two hits and two RBIs. Cedric Mullins and Ramon Urias each reached base three times for the Orioles, who have won six of their last eight games.
Cole Sulser notched his fifth save while escaping a ninth-inning jam.
Tigers starter Matt Manning (2-4) gave up five runs, two earned, on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Eric Haase hit a solo home run.
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to seven games with a leadoff single in the second. Jeimer Candelario added a one-out hit but Willi Castro fouled out and Zack Short struck out, leaving the runners stranded.
Baltimore broke through in the third with a two-out run. Mullins singled with one out and stole second with two down. Mountcastle then hit a bloop that dropped in front of diving center fielder Derek Hill and Mullins scored.
The Tigers tied it in the fourth on Haase’s team-high 18th homer, a solo blast to left.
The Orioles regained the lead in the fifth on Franco’s leadoff homer, which barely went over the left-field wall.
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Baltimore stretched its lead to 5-1 in the sixth, though Manning deserved a better fate.
The Orioles loaded the bases with one out on a single and two walks. Pedro Severino then popped out and Franco hit a routine grounder to shortstop Short. He threw to second baseman Castro, who dropped the throw as a run scored. Valaika then slapped a two-run single to right, ending Manning’s night.
Detroit loaded the bases in the ninth against Tanner Scott on two walks and a hit batter. Sulser replaced him and Akil Baddoo hit an RBI grounder. Sulser then struck out Derek Hill and Jonathan Schoop to end the game.
–Field Level Media